Button-hole clamp



(No Model.)

D. MILLS.

BUTTON HOLE CLAMP.

Patented June 9; 1885.

WI TNESSES JNVENTwi iJWdc/VLHM N PETERS, FMlwLilhognpher, Wi hingorl, D. C.

NI'IEI) STATES PATENT PRICE,

DANIEL MILLS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASsIeNoR To MILLS RUTToNHoLE ATTACHMENT COMPANY, OF CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY.

BUTTON-HOLE CLAMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 319,836, dated June 9, 1885.

Application filed January 30, 1885. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL MILLS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Button-Hole Clamps,

of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of an improved clothclamp, more especially adapted for use in connection with button-hole-sewing mechanism,

Such, for instance, as described in the Letters Patent granted to me September 23, 1884, No. 305,624.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective View of my improved clamp,

showing the jaws partly open and partly in section, and Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the Clamp-jaws.

A is the frame of the clamp, having at its rear a transverse Slot'for connection with any suitable mechanism for imparting motion to the clamp, such, for instance, as described in my aforesaid patent. This frame A carries at its lower part the usual flat lower clampingj aw, B, having a longitudinal slot, b, somewhat longer and wider than the largest-sized button-hole to be made with this device. prefer to provide this lower jaw at the inner end with a transverse guide-plate, D, against which the edge of the material to be buttonholed is placed.

The upper jaw, E, which is narrower in width than the lower jaw, B, is also provided with a longitudinal slot, 6, of less width, however, than the slot of the jaw B, and this upper jaw is provided along the longitudinal edgrs of the slot 6 with downwardly -projeoting flanges f, and along its outer edges with downwardly-projecting serrated flanges or teeth f, so that when the upper jaw is depressed these teeth f will grip and hold the cloth against the upper face of thelower j aw, while the flanges f, entering the slot of said lower jaw, will stretch and keep the cloth taut across the opening where the button-hole is to be sewed. This 5 upper jaw is carried by a bifurcated arm, G,

I also pivoted loosely at the rear on a vertical headed pin, 9, onthe frame, and having a similar or other suitable connection with the jaw E at g 9.

Between the frame and the arm G is a spiral or other spring, 2', Fig. 2, which tends to raise the arm G, and consequently separate the j aws, while a cam, H, adapted to bearings in lugs a aon the frame A, and operated by a handle,

h, is employed to bring the jaws together to Clamp the clot-h.

I am aware that cloth-clamps have been provided with serrated flanges-as, for instance, in the patent of Vogel, N 0. 156,048, October 20, 1874. I am also aware that plain and ser- 50 rated flanges have been provided to enter a slot or opening in the lower clamp-jaw; but so far as I am aware no clamp has been provided with inner smooth flanges to enter a slot in the opposite jaw, in combination with teeth or serrated flanges along the outer edge. This construction gives a self tightening or stretching action on the material, such as none of the other constructions do, for the teeth on the outer edge grasp the material, while the flanges 7o entering through the slot of the other jaw press on and stretch the material quite tightly. Plain jaws on the outer edges will not grip the material sufficiently, while teeth on the inner jaws tear it and do not stretch it uniformly.

I Claim as my invention- A cloth-clamp having slotted jaws, one of said jaws being provided with smooth flanges to enter the slot of the other jaw, and also serrated flanges or teeth along its outer edges, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

DANL. MILLS.

Witnesses:

GEO. D. MILLS, HARRY SMITH. 

